Ph.D. Program in Transportation Overview

ObjectivesThe Ph.D. program in Transportation and Urban Infrastructure Systems targets highly motivated students who have already obtained the master's degree and desire to pursue career paths in transportation and infrastructure related education, consulting, research, or administration.

Expected Student Learning OutcomesUpon completion of the program, students will have gained a broad technical and interdisciplinary background that will have enhanced their skills in identifying and tackling critical transportation and urban infrastructure problems. Specifically, upon completing the doctoral program, students will be expected to:

Examine and explain the historical and political contexts of landmark transportation policy-decisions, and contemporary local and global transportation and urban infrastructure issues and priorities;

Communicate effectively and function on a multi-disciplinary team, particularly in scholarly settings.

Admission RequirementsThe Ph.D. program in Transportation and Urban Infrastructure Systems seeks exceptional students having at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a scale of 4.0) for all graduate work completed and a commitment for innovation and leadership. Other requirements include a resume or curriculum vita documenting current and previous professional activities, and planned career goals; GRE scores; and three letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors familiar with the applicant's academic/professional background. All application materials must be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies for preliminary screening. Acceptance into the School of Graduate Studies is a prerequisite for admission into the Ph.D. program in Transportation and Urban Infrastructure Systems.

General RequirementsStudents enrolled in the Ph.D. program will be required to satisfy the following requirements:

Form a doctoral advisory committee comprising at least four tenured or tenure-track faculty members, no later than the second year of enrollment, that will approve the student's program of study and guide the student's research activities;

Complete a minimum of 48 graduate-credit hours (including 12 hours of dissertation related research and seminars) of study beyond the master's degree;

Fulfill the minimum residency requirement by taking at least 9 credits of coursework in two consecutive semesters or 6 credits of coursework in three consecutive semesters at Morgan State University;

Pass the doctoral candidacy examinations, administered by the dissertation committee, on the core subjects, declared concentration, and two minor areas pertinent to transportation and urban infrastructure;

Develop and defend a dissertation proposal; and

Complete and successfully defend a dissertation based on timely and original research in a relevant area of transportation and/or urban infrastructure.

In order to maintain a good academic standing and remain in the program, the student may not have grades lower than B on any of the required core courses or more than 20 percent of the required minimum coursework.